When Bud Abbott and Lou Costello did their famous “Who’s On First?” routine, they used several different versions. They would tailor their skit for different performances — having five, seven and nine-minute versions — and, with various ad libs, the piece almost never came out the same way twice.
Poor Costello was always frustrated and confused by Abbott’s answers to his questions. How could Costello know that Abbott’s team had strange names — with a first baseman named “Who,” a second baseman named “What” and a third baseman called “I Don’t Know”?
To try to prevent Brooklyn Cyclones fans from suffering the same frustration as the lovable Costello (who was born in New Jersey, but might as well have come from Brooklyn), let’s find out Who’s On First for this year’s Cyclones, as only five players have returned from last year’s squad.
Who’s on first?
The answer is Ian Bladergroen. The name has a Dutch heritage, and it’s pronounced “blade-er-grown.” He’s a 6-foot-5 left-handed batter and thrower. At Lamar Community College in 2003, he hit 32 home runs. He was drafted as a “draft and follow” in 2002, which means that the Mets kept his rights for a year and he signed this spring.
Cyclones batting coach Roger LaFrancois says that Bladergroen is a Jon Olerud-type player, referring to the former Mets first baseman known for his great patience at the plate and excellent glove.
Bladergroen’s great uncle, a retired New York City police officer, still lives in Brooklyn.
What’s on second?
His name is David Housel, and he’s from Lou Costello’s home state. But Housel looks more like the skinny Abbott, as David stretches only 165 pounds over a 6-foot-2 frame. After two years at Kingsport, the switch-hitter is off to a good start at the plate and in the field. Housel has decided to forego commuting from his Chester, N.J. home and will stay with the other Cyclones at Brooklyn’s Polytechnic University dorm.
I don’t know? He’s on third.
Now you do know third base, he’s Shawn Bowman, a Canadian who played two years for the Canadian Junior National Team (18 years old and under). Still only 18 years old, Bowman says about playing baseball, “I like to get dirty, and I love playing before a crowd.”
With that attitude, he seems made for Brooklyn.
I don’t give a damn
That was the name of Abbott’s shortstop (with “damn” being replaced with “darn” for a younger crowd), but David Reaver is playing there for Brooklyn, and he cares very much. He was the Mets’ 10th-round pick in the 2003 draft. Out of the University of Richmond, he was a USA Today second team All-American. In early season games he was playing a fine shortstop, stealing bases and hitting over .400.
Other infielders include Travis Garcia, the Mets’ 21st-round pick this year. Garcia is a right-hitting middle infielder who grew up in the Bronx. Jesus Linares is a switch-hitting infielder who played last year at Kingsport, where he hit .254.
Why and Because
How about the outfield? Abbott’s team had Why playing in left field and Because in center, but they didn’t name a right fielder. The Cyclones fill all three spots.
The Cyclones have been using Rashad Parker in left and center and the right-handed batter usually leads off. The former UCLA star is really in his first season; he was at Kingsport last season, but he had an injured shoulder.
The speedy Parker tries to be a sparkplug and gets things going.
“My being here now is a blessing,” adds the exciting, but soft-spoken Parker.
Corey Coles has been playing centerfield. The speedy Coles, lefty-lefty, was a fifth-round draft choice who also pitched at LSU-Lafayette. He would occasionally close out games by coming in from the outfield to pitch. Coles has a fine arm and will concentrate on the outfield with Brooklyn.
Seth Pietsch, pronounced “peach,” has been christened “The Oregon Pietsch” by announcer Warner Fusselle — a play on Ty Cobb’s nickname and Pietsch’s home state.
Pietcsh, who says his biggest baseball thrill is watching the ball sail over the fence, managed to effectuate just that when the right-handed batter hit the first pitch that he ever saw for a home run against Aberdeen. He runs well, stands only 5-foot-9, but has arms of steel.
Darren Watts played in 10 games for the 2002 Cyclones, hitting .154; he hit .257 for Kingsport and tied for fifth in stolen bases in the Appalachian League. According to LaFrancois, “He’s in Brooklyn to close his stance, shorten his swing, and use the whole field.”
The Cyclones have an outfielder from Southern California who wears No. 4. The right handed batter hit .411 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs for University of California-Riverside in 2003.
Today and Next Week?
Today was the name of Abbott’s catcher. The Cyclones have four “Todays.”
Stacey Bennett catches and plays third base. The left-handed hitter was the Mets 14th-round choice in the 2003 draft.
Zac Clements played six games with last year’s Cyclones, and played 16 games with Kingsport, with the right-handed batter hitting .282.
Yunir “Junior” Garcia hit .233 for Kingsport in 2002. A fine receiver, he’s only 20 years old.
Piazza is going to do some catching for the 2003 Cyclones, but the first Piazza to play for Brooklyn will be Anthony Piazza, not Mike. They are not related by blood, but they are sure to be connected by comments about having the same last name. Out of Southwest Missouri State, the right handed hitting Piazza hit .302 this season with a team-leading 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. He led the team to their first appearance in the College World Series.
These are the field players for Brooklyn. What about the pitchers, you ask?
When Costello said to Abbott, “Tell me who’s pitching,” Abbott replied, “Tomorrow.”
Costello plaintively asked, “You’re not going to tell me today?”
So that’s what we’ll do. We’ll tell you about the pitchers tomorrow. (Well, actually, we’ll tell you next week.)
